.22LR pistols for pack in side arm opinions?

I just bought a Taurus model 94 9 round double action revolver and am not very pleased with it. My purpose for the gun was as a light and accurate grouse plunker when I'm in the back country and double as a trapin gun. The first time I fired the taurus I noticed that the cylinder wasn't linning up with the bore so every time I fire lead or copper shaves off the round and sprays out between the cylinder and the bore. Not only is this a potential safety hazard it plays havoc on accuracy. I sent the gun back to taurus to get lined out. I'm just wondering if I'm the only one with this experience and what .22s everyone is carrying? Thanks Duckman

Thanks for the ruger lead. I am hoping when I get the pistol back the problem is remedied I expected better from a rimfire that costs over 350 bucks not to mention the 70 it cost me to send it back for repair. I'm sure I could have picked up a ruger auto loader for less than 300 and never had a problem. JE I'm glad to hear that you have had much better luck with your taurus guns. As mine was I would be luck to shoot a 6 inch group at 25yds. That does me no good for making headshots on grouse at similar ranges. Nothin against Taurus though sounds like I just got a lemon. Sent it back about a month ago and I'm hoping it will be on it's way home soon.

I have a number of Rugers chambered in 22lr. A tricked out match target (indoor) 22lr that bears little resemblence to the bull barrel stainless hunter it started life as, a Ruger 22 Charger which incidently will fit a Ruger carbine action and barrel for the ultimate (and not so legal) Bull Pup version (looks wicked with a long gun barrel in a pistol stock BTW) and an old Ruger 22lr blue steel pistol that looks like a Luger but shoots a pea sized projectile.

The only one that ever had a trigger that I would call even marginally acceptable was the early model blued 'Luger' like pistol.

Ruger makes a fine firearm, very accurate and able to eat just about anything from Wolf Match Extra (my go to match target load) to Remingtom bulk golden (at least 3 duds per hundred, guaranteed).

First thing I do is completely strip the inner workings and the action/slide and install carefully inspected Volquartsen or Kidd components, trigger group, sear, extractor, firing pin and spring and toss the cheapo plastic grips and install some custom grips (just my preference). I want a trigger pull of about 2.5 pounds with no creep and no pretravel and you'll NEVER get that with a stock, late model Ruger. I'm not adverse to a little stoning either but thats personal taste.

Once the OEM crap has found it's way to Flea-Bay and the quality stuff is inside, I replace the magazine release with a release that actually releases.

Ruger's are notoriously hard to disassemble with the 'jackknife closure that catches the action spring. Taking one apart and reassembling can be an exercise in patience and beer. I prefer to 'remove the grips and dunk' the pistol. sans grips and magazine in Stoddard solvent or blow out with non-chlorinated brake cleaner, to clean the works, plus the usual boresnake in the tube. A quick blast with an airhose, some Hoppes No.9 and an oily rag and she's good to go again. Of course the grips have to go back on.

Great guns with good OOTB accuracy in a short tube but not without issues, mainly trigger and extractor.

A factory, late model Ruger typically pulls at over 4 pounds, all kinds of side slop and you never know when you are up on the sear because the trigger has no feel whatsoever. You want a light trigger for a light gun or you will 'pull' the gun as you engage the trigger and accuracy goes right out the window.

All fixable however.

I would not hesitate to carry my modded Hunter in any situation, loaded with Agulia Hyper Velocity FMJ lead bullets. The target modded trigger and the balance would allow very close shot placement and 11 Agulia's would make anything within reason, leak.......

My opinion of Tarus is it's one step above a Kel-Tec or a half step above a Saturday Night Special. Besides Rugers are made in Prescott, Arizonia or out east and Tarus comes in, in a container, from Brazil. Easy choice for me.

I have been regretting not going with a single six since I bought the taurus but it was more compact, lighter and holds nine rounds. I chose a wheel gun because I want to be able to use the gun as a dispatch tool for traping as well as a light grouse getter for the backpack. Most of the auto loaders to my knowledge require hot ammo to cycle cleanly ( not ideal for fur) The only down side I saw with the taurus was not being able to drop the the lr cylinder for a mag cylinder which was not a big deal for my purposes. I checked out a ruger single ten the other day which I presume would perform just as well as the six you cannot drop the mag cylinder into it though.